Pixel 10 says goodbye to this charging technology, and it’ll be a huge loss for some

Google made quite a splash with its recent hardware event, debuting new Pixel 10 phones, the Pixel Watch 4, Pixel Buds 2a, and many interesting software features. Of course, there are also plenty of hardware features to get excited about as well, but the one that stands out is Google’s adoption of Qi2.

We’ve been hearing about it for quite some time, but this could be the start of something big, with the potential to see the technology roll out to more Android devices over time. And while being able to slap a magnetic puck on the back of the Pixel 10 and have it wirelessly charge is pretty exciting, there are other great uses for Qi2 as well.

A huge loss for some

Sadly, with something new gained, it looks like Google also had to let go. With 9to5Google pointing out that Battery Share is no longer a part of the new Pixel 10 lineup. For those unfamiliar, Battery Share has been a big part of Google’s phones for quite some time, allowing users to wirelessly charge devices using the phone itself.

While losing this feature might not be a huge issue for some, it will be a drastic change for some. Battery Share is a nice feature to have, especially if you need to charge up some smaller accessories on the go. And as far as why Battery Share is no longer present, Droidreader reached out to Google, and got clarification that it’s just a “physical limitation.”

Qi2 requires having magnets built into the phone and this could cause potential issues with a reliable connection with reverse wireless charging. For now, there doesn’t look to be a solution to this problem, but it’s quite possible that Google, or some other brand, will figure out how to make it all work.

But for now, it appears to be the end of an era, for Pixel devices at least. So if you are someone that religiously uses Battery Share, the Pixel 10 might not be a great option if you’re looking to upgrade. Otherwise, we’d still recommend giving the new phones a try, considering how much else you’re getting.

Right now, you can score up to $300 just by buying a Pixel outright from Amazon, and AT&T and Verizon are offering excellent promotions with trade-ins. This really is a great time to pick up a new Pixel phone. Just be sure to pick it up before its August 28 retail launch date in order to secure the best deals.